Whether you are walking along the aisle of the garden nursery or browsing the website of the seed company, you will encounter hundreds of colorful, delicious temptations. The names of plants and seeds can be as wordy as the poems in the farmers' market: "Red Dragon" sesame vegetable, "Porcelain Princess" pumpkin, "sugar cube" hami melon.... Before you get your garden started, we will show you 5 gardening skills. Among all the gardening skills for beginners, making your first season as easy as possible is the first. Start with small things, focus on your success in local flowers and agricultural products, and look forward to years of gardening.
Imagine Your Garden Plan
First determine what will bring you the greatest happiness, and then make a list. Would you like fresh tomatoes or cucumbers for salad or salsa? Echinacea and the universe attract pollinators? Like your grandmother's morning glory? How about baked pizza with basil or smoothies with healthy vegetables? Insist on choosing about five varieties for your first garden.
When you imagine your flowering bounty, also evaluate the location of your proposed garden. You must decide where your plants will grow and prepare your space so that it is ready to plant your plants in this season. Are you considering planting in raised beds or containers? Do most vegetables and flowers have at least six hours of sunshine? If you have half shade or full shade, look for varieties that thrive under these conditions, such as impatiens and begonias.
Savana Tip: Please keep your convenience in mind when planning planting space. Plant plants near your door or terrace for monitoring, and have a way to water the plants within your reach. It only takes a few minutes to pull out some weeds, check whether they are dry, and find the sneaky mature green beans or cucumbers that can be mixed in and hidden under the leaves.
Stick With Seedlings
At the beginning, you may want to consider buying seedlings, which start with seeds. The seedlings that can be used in the garden let you seize the opportunity to shorten the time waiting for flowers, vegetables, fruits and herbs to bloom. Because they are young and tender, the seedlings really need to be "hardened", which allows them to adapt to the shadow, sunshine and breeze for several days before planting.
If you prefer to plant plants from seeds, please look for prepackaged seed combinations that can grow well together, such as green beans for terrace gardens, space saving cucumbers, lettuce and tomatoes. You can also find the varieties designated as the selected winners in the United States to obtain a productive and reliable choice.
Start Small With Containers
You don't need a yard to grow beautiful plants - really! If you live in an apartment, attic or terrace, you can choose container gardening. The container is also ideal for homeowners who are not ready to dig grass or build raised garden beds. Plants that perform best in containers are usually shorter and smaller, so they can handle less root space and do not become thin or turn over in the wind. Find flowers less than 3 feet tall, vegetables designated as shrub varieties, or compact plants for containers. You can mix different plants in a container, such as tomatoes with Italian and Thai basil, or cucumbers with chives and nasturtiums (these flowers add pepper flavor and bright colors to the salad).
Use a potting mixture containing fertilizer and organic materials to help provide nutrients and maintain water for plants so that they do not dry out too quickly. Before watering, gently put your finger into the soil to see if the soil surface is still wet. In addition, make sure your container has a good drain hole, otherwise your plant roots may rot or drown after an unexpected storm or a long shower.
Find Your Garden Friends
Local horticultural experts can provide beginners with some of the best gardening skills because they know the climate and soil in your area. Find a nearby garden club and check out the monthly meetings. Or look for public events, such as spring plant sales or summer garden trips, which are great ways to get new ideas about what to plant together or discover new varieties. You can also visit public gardens or botanical gardens for inspiration. There are many ongoing workshops and experimental gardens to test emerging varieties that you may want to include in your wish list.
Carry a Garden Journal
Let's end with an effective gardening tip for beginners: keep a gardening diary, take photos while walking, and track the plants planted each year. Write down what works and what doesn't, so you don't have to reinvent the wheel next season. You may be a novice gardener, but don't take failure seriously. Senior gardeners will assure you that there are some plants that are vulnerable to weather or pests in each season.
Your next season will thank you for your good notes, especially if you are planting perennial plants that grow year after year. You don't want to accidentally dig up and damage the forgotten plants that appear late next season. Track your most delicious and best performing varieties, and prepare a wish list to list the varieties you hope to grow with the expansion of experience in the next few years. Most importantly, consider gardening diaries as a way to celebrate your gardening trip.
